New York: archdiocesan spokesman protests unequal treatment (New York archdiocese)New York’s Mayor Bill de Blasio said that demonstrations would be allowed, despite emergency lockdown regulations, but those regulations would still apply to religious services. A spokesman for the New York archdiocese observed: “Amidst it all, we have once again been given proof that religious liberty is a second-class right.”

US blocks UN agreement over pro-life concerns (C-FAM)“The United States rejects any interpretation of international human rights to require any State Party to provide access to abortion,” the US mission to the United Nations said in a statement. “In short, there is no international right to abortion, nor is there any duty on the part of States to finance or facilitate abortion.”

Hong Kong: thousands defy order to mark Tiananmen anniversary (CNA)Thousands of demonstrators gathered in defiance of a government ban in Hong Kong to observe the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. The protest against Chinese repression comes during a period of heightened tension in Hong Kong, after China moved to curb the autonomy of the province. The AsiaNews service provides video footage of the demonstrations.